What's Next?

Loved by the Law

Genre: Romance, Drama

Adalyne Rollins a young woman trapped in a painful and relentless circle of an abusive relationship, get beaten, get a gift, get demened, get an apology, only to get beaten again. The circle has been in motion for years at this point, the only person trying to pull her from the inner turmoil is Police Lieutenant Ryder Boone, a man who grew up watching his mother in the same circle. Determined to help save this woman, he fights to get her to understand, to make a friend of the frightened girl.

Ryder Boone is the product of an abusive relationship, understanding the inner workings he doesn't have a hard time knowing what part of the cycle Adalyne is in. Each time he sees her he tries to make her listen, tries to be the friend she needs when things are so impossibly blurry. What happens when that friendship blossoms to more than either of them could imagine?

Excerpt:

"Adalyne, honey why are you back here?" Hearing the strong and determined voice of Police Lieutenant, Ryder Boone, I feel myself start to shake with emotion. This isn't the first time that someone from the police department has been asked to come down to the hospital. Lieutenant Boone has somehow always received the call to come down and attempt to talk some sense into me. The reason he always talks makes sense, yet I'm terrified of what Jason will do if I ever try to act.

"Nothing, I just-" Before I can come up with an excuse, to explain away the new bruising and fractured rib. I hear a sigh and watch as jean clad legs step into my view. A hand brushes the hair from my forehead.

"Let me guess, you tripped. Or fell down the stairs, or maybe you walked into the door or some kind of furniture." Hearing him finish making my excuse makes me blush fiercely, and not in a good way either. Lieutenant Boone crouches down in front of me, with a softened expression I watch as his eyes trace the bruising that's visible to him. "Or perhaps Jason started drinking, maybe he raised his voice at you, you might have started crying. And just maybe Jason got mad and he raised his hands to you." Hearing his reenactment I feel my embarrassment blossom to a level that I haven't experienced in a long time.

Giving a weak shrug, my lip wobbles as fresh tears come to my eyes. I don't know what to say or how to get out of this. "Honey, you have to talk to me. What's going on, you can't keep coming to the hospital. Sooner or later you're not gonna be leaving."

"I'm scared." I admit, to more than just myself as another round of tears starts to roll down my swollen cheeks. I'm scared that sooner or later Jason is going to hurt me so badly that it leads to my death. I don't want that, but how can I get away from him? It's nearly impossible to get away from him long enough to come get checked out. Even now I know that I'll face trouble because I came here. He hates it when I come to the hospital.

"Honey, I know you're scared but you have to let me help you. I don't like hearing that you're back down at the ER." He tries to assure me, and I feel a shaky breath bubble it's way out in a strange hiccup. My rib protests loudly at the simple action and I wince, feeling my breathing become even more uneven. The pain makes my breathing stutter, as it protests and that just seems to worsen my anxiety.

"I don't know what to do." I hear myself whimper pitifully as I force my hands to cover my face in shame. Needing the reprieve from my own shame and embarrassment. I don't have a job, my family all loves Jason, they won't help me leave him. I don't have the money to leave him. I'm stuck, and I'm terrified.

"We can help you. But you have to help us help you." Lieutenant Boone grabs my hand carefully pulling it away from my face. He turns his eyes downward following my hand and starts to observe the handprint on my wrist. Jason grabbed me arm harshly, yanking me to follow him down the steps into the basement. That just led to me tripping and stumbling down into him. Making him even angrier.

"How do I get away from him? He scares me." Using my other hand I wipe away at my tears. I'm terrified to attempt to defy Jason, I don't know what he would do if I tried to leave him.

"I'm sure your family can help with housing and maybe funds if that's something you need. I can press charges and get him away from you for a while." I shake my head automatically, my family wouldn't help me get away from him. To them Jason is a lifesaver because he pays most of their bills. He supports them and keeps me under lock and key, I only call them every once and awhile and they all brag about Jason and how much of a good man he is to them.

"They won't help. He pays their bills, most everything else they ask for. They don't care what he's doing to me." Dropping my hand back into my lap he starts looking over my other arm. An attendant from the hospital walks into the room holding my charts.

"I'm glad that you are here Mr. Boone, Mrs. Rollins has informed me of some troubling information. I think you need to know about it." As soon as she states that I already know what she is referring to and once again become not only shamed but embarrassed and disgusted. I don't really know why I had brought it up. I know my period wasn't the cause I already had mine not even a week before. Lt. Boone stands up and grabs the chart with a nod. With a sigh he flips open the chart and looks over the information.

"Oh Honey.." He trails off as he turns his attention back to me, his eyes filled with disbelief as he once again crouches in front of me.

"From our analysis the damage was pretty severe, and most likely not consensual." I look away feeling my face burn as tears flow strongly down my cheeks. I thought that my tears were stopping.